Exploding glass is a phenomenon by which toughened glass (or tempered) may spontaneously break (or explode) without any apparent reason. The most common causes are: Binding of the glass in the frame, causing stresses to develop as the glass expands and contracts due to thermal changes or deflects due to wind.
Because sliding glass door panes are tempered, they're inherently prone to spontaneous shattering. And while it's not common by any means, it does happen and can take homeowners by surprise when it does. Most often, shattering will occur as a result of fluctuations in temperature.
The expansion of the heated glass center results in tensile stress at the edge of the glass. If the thermally induced stress exceeds the edge strength of the glass, breakage occurs. A far less common—but often cited—cause of spontaneous glass breakage is nickel-sulfide (NiS) inclusions in tempered glass.
Any flaw in the edge or glass surface can cause spontaneous breakage. Small cracks in glass grow over time. As the glass expands in the heat and contracts in the cold this crack will grow. Eventually, this change in temperature can cause the tempered glass to shatter.
The product most commonly used for shower door construction is tempered glass. This glass goes through a process of heating and rapid cooling that leaves it much more durable than annealed glass. Tempered shower door glass is available in many styles – clear, ultra-clear, acid-etched, patterned, tinted, and cast.
Glass shower doors and enclosures can shatter, seemingly without warning. This means that when shattering happens, the glass breaks into many small pieces rather than large jagged pieces. While these smaller pieces are definitely less dangerous than non-tempered glass, lacerations can still occur.
Tempered glass has smooth edges
So, one good way is to look thoroughly at the edges of the glass. Tempered sheets have smooth and even edges because of the extra processing it goes through. On the other hand, if the glass is not tempered, the edges feel rough to touch.If you run a damp finger along the rim of a glass, you might hear a faint, ghostly hum – the resonant frequency of the glass. Or you can simply tap the glass and hear the same frequency. To shatter the glass, a singer's voice has to match that frequency, or pitch, and the glass must have microscopic defects.
Glass shower doors are hardly the most dangerous glass in the house. Consumer Reports last year made the case that glass coffee tables pose a far greater risk, precisely because tempered glass is often not used. It said the tables cause approximately 20,000 injuries per year.
Shower Door ReplacementReplacing just the door can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your shower, one of the most important parts of a bathroom. Replacing your old shower door with a new piece can save on the large cost of ripping out your entire shower's base and walls.
Tempered glass is about four times stronger than "ordinary," or annealed, glass. And unlike annealed glass, which can shatter into jagged shards when broken, tempered glass fractures into small, relatively harmless pieces. As a result, tempered glass is used in those environments where human safety is an issue.
Definately not plexiglass. It cracks too easily, scratches, gets foggy and discolors. Lexan would be a better plastic option, but IMO tempered glass is by far the best way to go.
